Sports Handicapper Michael Alexander's Picks & Predictions

Rating: 2 Units

Vanderbilt is coming off a 76-75 home win over Tennessee on Saturday. That was the biggest win in Mark Byington's first season at the helm in Nashville. Vanderbilt also hosted South Carolina last week, and we're using some numbers from that game as the catalyst for our handicap in this one. The Gamecocks were missing two starters and turned the ball over a whopping 25 times, and that game was tied in the final seconds before Vanderbilt hit the game-winner. That is concerning. Per KenPom, the Commodores played a bottom-20 non-conference schedule in the country, while Alabama played a top-10 schedule. This will be the hardest road environment Vanderbilt has faced this season. Assuming the Crimson Tide have recovered from their post-Kentucky celebrations, Alabama should cruise to victory in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The Golden Gophers are ranked 100th in DI in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings and are 0-3 on the road with all three defeats in Big Ten play. Minnesota is averaging 69.2 points on the season, pegging them 308th. The Golden Gophers have given up at least 80 points in five of their past six games and are conceding an average of 68.8 points, placing them 104th.The Hawkeyes are marked 54th in the country in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings and are 10-1 at home. The only home defeat was against a ranked Iowa State team. Iowa is scoring an average of 88.4 points, good for fourth. 

Rating: 2 Units

In conference play, the Bearcats are last in offensive efficiency, last in three-point shooting, No. 15 in effective field goal shooting, No. 14 in two-point shooting, No. 14 in free throw shooting and No. 14 in free throw attempts. Texas Tech has already won at Utah, at BYU and at Kansas State in conference play, so the Red Raiders are unlikely to be fazed by the trek to Fifth Third Arena. If Red Raiders' head coach Grant McCasland wants to play the revenge card, he certainly can. Cincinnati handed Texas Tech its first home loss last season as Simas Lukosius hit the game-winning jumper in the final seconds. The Red Raiders' offense is top-20 in the country in efficiency, effective field goal shooting, offensive rebounding rate and three-point shooting. Look for Texas Tech to get its revenge

Rating: 2 Units

The Lakers are just 5-8 ATS in non-conference games and 8-9 ATS when playing off a loss. This will be just the third time all season the Lakers are listed as double digit favorites going 1-1 ATS in the first two games while listed as 10-11 point favorites each time. Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole should get up for this game for Washington desperate to snap their losing streak and if Davis should sit, that should open up tons of opportunities for Jonas Valanciunas to score inside, scoring 23 points and hauling in 12 rebounds in their loss against Sacramento last time out.

Rating: 2 Units

Philadelphia now sits as the worst ATS team in the NBA so let’s recommend a play on the “over” with these two combining to go 22-6-2 to the “over” in non-conference games with Denver specifically going 13-2 to the “over”. Philadelphia is 4-2 to the “over” across their last six games and while Denver leads the league in fast break points on offense, they also allow the fourth most fast break points on defense which bodes well for Tyrese Maxey averaging 31 ppg across his past seven games. It’s also worth noting that Denver is 16-9 to the “over” after a win which will be the case tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

Both teams rank bottom ten in defensive efficiency with the Nets ranking top 10 in three pointers made per game and the Knicks ranking second to last in three-point percentage allowed on defense. Both teams are 4-2 to the “over” across their last six games respectively and although both rank bottom five in pace, Brooklyn may want to crank up the tempo knowing the Knicks are playing on tired legs tonight. New York is 16-10-1 to the “over” so let’s look for some points in Brooklyn as these cross-town rivals go at it once again.

Rating: 2 Units

The Capitals are having a great season but the Oilers look to step up at home and control this game. The Oilers, who average 3.28 goals per game, should pile on the goals with Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes. The Oilers, who allow only 2.74 goals per game, should limit the Capitals offense with Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone while limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Stuart Skinner to make plenty of big saves. The Oilers should win the game with a strong performance on their home ice. Take the Oilers money line as home Favorites.